Michigan's Will Johnson Listed As Top-10 NFL Draft Pick

He's not eligible for this year's NFL Draft, but Michigan's Will Johnson would likely be a first-round pick if he were.

In order to be eligible for the NFL Draft, a player must be out of high school for at least three years and have completed their college eligibility by the start of the following football season. That means Michigan cornerback Will Johnson, who is about to enter his sophomore season in Ann Arbor, won't be eligible for the NFL Draft until 2025 - but that doesn't mean he isn't already a draft-worthy prospect. 

In fact, PFF College recently listed Johnson as a top-10 pick in this year's draft if he were eligible. 

First round mock draft if EVERY current college player was eligible♨️ pic.twitter.com/uEM8KVszFI

— PFF College (@PFF_College) February 21, 2023

It's not surprising that the former five-star prospect is already high on several mock draft boards, but it's still pretty impressive to see a kid with only one year of college football under his belt listed as a potential top-10 pick. 

At 6-2, 194 pounds, Johnson already has the size, speed, and ball skills to compete at football's highest level.  As a freshman at Michigan, he appeared in all 14 games and made five starts at the corner position. Johnson recorded a career-high in tackles (8) vs Ohio State and interceptions (2) in the Big Ten Championship game vs Purdue.  Johnson was named Freshman All-American by PFF, 247Sports and The Athletic, while also earning shared Defensive Player of the Year honors at U-M. 

Here's a comprehensive look at his accomplishments after one season at Michigan, courtesy of MGoBlue.com:

• Appeared in all 14 games as a defensive back and special teams contributor with five starts at cornerback; made 27 tackles with 2.0 for loss and three interceptions among six pass breakups to earn his first varsity letter

• Freshman All-American by Pro Football Focus, 247Sports, The Athletic

• Shared Defensive Freshman of the Year honors

• Named Special Teams Freshman of the Game following his performance against Hawaii

• On four occasions, named Defensive Freshman of the Game for his performance against Michigan State, Penn State, at Indiana, at Ohio State

• Shared Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance at Rutgers

• Played at corner and nickel in his U-M debut against Colorado State (Sept. 3)

• Made two solo tackles playing in the secondary against Hawaii (Sept. 10)

• Contributed as a cornerback and also played special teams against UConn (Sept. 17)

• Played in the secondary against Maryland (Sept. 24)

• Credited with three solo tackles playing on the outside of the secondary at Iowa (Oct. 1)

• Made one solo tackle playing cornerback at Indiana (Oct. 8)

• Delivered two solo tackles playing cornerback against Penn State (Oct. 15)

• Made one tackle for loss playing in the defensive backfield against Michigan State (Oct. 29)

• Earned his first career start at Rutgers (Nov. 5) and recorded his first career interception, which he returned 29 yards

• Started again and made two solo tackles with a pass breakup against Nebraska (Nov. 12)

• Registered four solo tackles playing corner against Illinois (Nov. 19)

• Started at Ohio State (Nov. 26) and delivered eight tackles a new career-best

• Picked off two passes and made a TFL against Purdue in the Big Ten Championship (Dec. 3)

• Started, broke up a pass, and made two tackles against TCU in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl/CFP Semifinal (Dec. 31)